How slots work — RNG and RTP
Every spin in a slot game is controlled by a Random Number Generator, or RNG — an algorithm that produces thousands of numbers every millisecond. When you press the spin button, the number at that exact moment determines the result. This means each spin has no connection to the one before it.
RTP stands for Return to Player — this percentage is a theoretical calculation of how much a game returns over the long run. For example, PG Soft's Fortune Tiger has a maximum RTP of 96.81%, and Pragmatic Play's Gates of Olympus has a maximum RTP of 96.50%. However, this is an average across millions of spins, so it cannot be relied upon in a single session.
Volatility is the degree to which wins fluctuate. In a low-volatility game, small wins come frequently; in a high-volatility game, wins are less frequent but larger when they come. For beginners, starting with low-volatility slots is recommended.